Dottie Irwin Melko:
CLASS OF 1962
Brownsville High SchoolClass of 1962
Brownsville, TX
Stell Middle SchoolClass of 1959
Brownsville, TX
Cummings Middle SchoolClass of 1957
Brownsville, TX
Russell Elementary SchoolClass of 1956
Brownsville, TX
Dottie's Story
Life
We had such a good time at our 50th Class Reunion for BHS Class of 1962. If you missed it, you missed a good time!! We had a marvelous turnout. It was fun visiting with everybody. I don't think I even sat down at Cobbleheads on Friday night for a few minutes. Too many long time schoolmates to visit with & learn their status now. Many of them, I went to school with since 3rd grade, my first date with Clark Owen in 5th grade, & learning that someone had chased me all thru 7th grade & I never had a clue!!! The Memorial Service on Saturday was hard for me but I sat with Judy Johnston Crowe & Doug Crowe, who are long time friends & I could lean on them, especially when they played "In The Garden", as it was also played at my sister's memorial service. The dinner Saturday night was a special treat for all of us. Our foreign exchange student from Denmark and his wife attended & he told us about his impressions about coming to Texas & to BHS. The table decorations were extra special too. I left before the dancing started but a good time was had by all. Pictures are on SmugMug dot com or check my Facebook page. We missed each of you!! One sad note, Jack Compton's brother, David, had an aneurysm and died Friday night. Our condolences go to all of the family.
My sister, Mary Lee Irwin Powers, died on 9-5-12. She was 64 years old. She had 3 strokes, a heart attack, & COPD. She left a message for all you smokers, quit while you can get the benefit of healing time. She fought so hard to breathe, even on a good day. Finally, her body just wore out. She went quickly & in no pain, thanks to Hospice & the morphine they left for her. I checked on her at 6:20 AM & she seemed OK, breathing was a little rough but not unusual. At 6:30 AM her son came in to tell me that she was gone. She was going to the 50th Class Reunion with me in October so it will be a somber one for me. Thanks for the thoughts & prayers for all of us & for Mary Lee. He son, who is a preacher, gave her eulogy & it was so good. It is on U-tube if you want to watch it.
So quickly your life changes. On 1-2-2011, my little sister Mary Lee Irwin, had a stroke, paralyzing her on the right side. I moved partially to my dad's house to take care of him since Mary Lee was incapacitated an...Expand for more
d wouldn't be able to care for him. He has had many strokes and no longer has any letters, numbers, colors, and partial vision in his right eye. He's alert and mobile. Mary Lee can only eat certain foods since part of her throat is paralyzed also, but her mind is still the same only a gentler, kinder person has emerged. The dr told her no more smoking but she did not listen, she says, and about a month later, she had the stroke that should have killed her and that is in an area only caused by smoking. Listen to the dr she says!! She is doing better, no changes physically, but we take her to us to Bingo and her youngest son takes her shopping at the mall here in Harlingen. Her mental status is still intact & wit is sharp as a tack. She loves to laugh now & is no longer "lovingly called Motor Mouth", it takes too much breath to talk incessantly!! She's oxygen bound from the stroke & from from emphysema. Overall, she is doing very well. Now overnight I have inherited a big house to care for, become chief cook and bottlewasher, now have a dog, a cat and am the chief cook. What a change for one who was downsizing and doing whatever I pleased. But it is all for family and done willingly and lovingly. Never take your life for granted.
My official class was 1962, but I'm one of those who was a jr/sr, graduated in 3 years in 1961. Two reunion classes!! I have 2 children & 4 grandsons, who live in Tomball. Retired Claims Manager primarily in Houston, but, also, in Harlingen for 5 years then went back to work in Brenham (home of Blue Bell Ice Cream) as a litigation adjuster for Germania Insurance. It's a job I loved but due to my dad's health, I retired at the end of February, 2009 and moved back to Harlingen. Now I can help my sister take care of him. My brother Gary died in November 2007 at the age of 47. I was married to Ralph Copenhaver for 19 years,had no kids for 10 years, then had a girl & a boy, then divorced; I remarried 9 years later, divorced after 3 years. Married twice, divorced twice, don't do that "M" word anymore!! My daughter, and especially her12 year old son, who is autistic, but not profoundly, are my life and my joy. My others are very loved, but he's just my "special one"!! He makes me smile!! Laughter is the best medicine!!
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